Battle of Fort Washington

The Battle of Fort Washington (16 November 1776) was a battle of the American Revolutionary War during the New York campaign of 1776. The remnant of the garrison of Fort Washington (now Washington Heights) near the north end of Manhattan was forced to surrender to the British in one of the greatest American disasters of the war.

After the Battle of White Plains on 28 October 1776, George Washington and his army retreated across the Hudson River into New Jersey, leaving behind the 3,000-strong garrison of Fort Washington. Its commanding general, Nathanael Greene, feared that abandoning another post would devastate morale, and he assured Washington that the position was strong. However, a spy took detailed plans of the fort to the British, who knew that the rebels were cut off from reinforcements. On 16 November 1776, the British and Hessians encircled Fort Washington, and, from New Jersey, Washington witnessed the capture of 3,000 soldiers, 1/4th of his army. 161 cannons and 400,000 musket cartridges were captured, and Greene confessed his mistake to Washington. Washington moved his remaining men deeper into New Jersey, and, after two months of retreat, he reached Trenton with only 3,000 men.